Date:2006 July 27, 12:30 (Thursday) Canonical ID:06NEWDELHI5285_a
Original Classification:CONFIDENTIAL Current Classification:CONFIDENTIAL
Handling Restrictions:-- Not Assigned -- Character Count:11236
Executive Order:-- Not Assigned -- Locator:TEXT ONLINE
TAGS:ENRG - Economic Affairs--Energy and Power | ETTC - Trade and Technology Controls | IN - India | KNNP - Nuclear Non-Proliferation | PARM - Political Affairs--Arms Controls and Disarmament | PGOV - Political Affairs--Government; Internal Governmental Affairs | PINR - Political Affairs--Intelligence | TRGY - Technology and Science--Energy Technology | TSPL - Technology and Science--Science and Technology Policy Concepts:-- Not Assigned --
Enclosure:-- Not Assigned -- Type:TE
Office Origin:-- N/A or Blank --
Office Action:-- N/A or Blank -- Archive Status:-- Not Assigned --
From:India New Delhi Markings:-- Not Assigned --
To:Bangladesh Dhaka | Central Intelligence Agency | China Beijing | Department of State | Director of National Intelligence | India Chennai | India Kolkata | India Mumbai | Japan Tokyo | Joint Chiefs of Staff | National Security Council | Nepal Kathmandu | Pakistan Islamabad | Pakistan Karachi | Pakistan Lahore | Pakistan Peshawar | Russia Moscow | Sri Lanka Colombo | United Nations (Geneva) | United Nations (New York) | United States Central Command | United States Pacific Command | United States Special Operations Command
ContentRaw contentMetadataPrint
Share
Find
Show Headers
B. NEW DELHI 5198
C. NEW DELHI 5157
D. NEW DELHI 5138
Classified By: Charge Geoff Pyatt for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) Summary: The U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Initiative has
moved to the top of the agenda in Parliament. Both the Prime
Minister and Minister of State for External Affairs tried to
assuage angry MPs from the Left and the Right on July 26 and
27, with limited success. Despite the dramatic floor
developments, much of the action has shifted outside
Parliament, with the Indian political leadership closeted in
closed-door meetings. The focus of the controversy is a
proposal by the Left Front (LF) for a "unanimous resolution"
that would express parliamentary disapproval of US actions
regarding the Initiative. The Congress Party has made it
clear that such a resolution is unacceptable and tantamount
to a "vote of confidence" against the UPA government, and is
trying to convince the sponsors to stand down. The LF and
its BJP allies insist they will go ahead with the proposal,
but could change tack on a moment's notice. As a face-saving
way out, Prime Minister Singh has offered to address the MPs
concerns in a statement to Parliament the week of July 31.
Congress is trying to convince the LF that cooperation with
the BJP is a betrayal, while some BJP leaders are already
expressing second thoughts about a Red/Saffron alliance on
this issue. With so much at stake, the leaders could
continue meeting right through the weekend and the situation
remain murky until the Prime Minister's address. End Summary.
Rising Temperatures Over the Initiative
---------------------------------------
2. (U) Indian political leaders have been closeted in
closed-door meetings all over Delhi in the past several days
to determine how the India/US Civil Nuclear Initiative will
play in Parliament. Press reports indicate that the
UPA/Congress is growing increasingly concerned that it could
become isolated on the issue and face a joint resolution in
Parliament against the nuclear deal that could attract the
support of the Left, BJP and regional parties, including
regional parties nominally belonging to the ruling UPA
alliance. Disgraced former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh has
also hinted at joining this coalition. A group of political
leaders from across party lines continue to insist that
Parliament pass a "unanimous resolution" expressing its
unhappiness with the India/US Civil Nuclear Initiative.
Although the text of a resolution has not been made public,
press reports indicate that it would condemn the US for its
purported "refusal" to accept India as a nuclear power and
define a number of US actions as "deviations" from the
original draft of the July 18 Indo-US Agreement. One MP told
the press that "our purpose is to convey the collective
sentiments of the members against the way India is allowing
itself to be dictated by the USA."
Meetings All Over Town: Congress Says I Dare You
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
3. (U) On July 26, former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh
(Congress), former Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha (BJP),
CPI(M) MP Sitaram Yechury, Janata Dal (U) leader Digvijay
Singh and Samajwadi Party (SP) General Secretary Amar Singh
met with Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to
convince him to accept their proposal for a "unanimous
NEW DELHI 00005285 002 OF 004
resolution" binding on the GOI regarding India's nuclear
cooperation with the US. They urged Shekhawat to enlist
Congress backing for their resolution. They claimed that
regional parties belonging to the UPA, including the DMK,
Telegu Desam Party (TDP) and the AIADMK would also back the
resolution.
4. (U) Congress, worried that the resolution initiative
could be gaining steam, authorized Parliamentary Affairs
Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi and Defense Minister Pranab
Mukherjee to meet with the Left leadership and convince them
to drop the resolution proposal. According to press reports,
Mukherjee was most adamant in the July 26 meeting, telling
representatives of all four parties in the Left Front that if
they went ahead with the resolution, "I am not in the
Government and the Government would not be there," and that
such a measure with the support of the LF and UPA regional
parties "would be tantamount to a no-confidence move."
Mukherjee also purportedly told the LF leadership that they
must choose "between communalism and imperialism, and that it
would do well not to be seen on the same side as the BJP on
this issue."
The Left Remains Coy
--------------------
5. (U) The LF made no definitive statement following its
meeting with the Congress Ministers and it remains unclear
whether the Communists will back the resolution proposal.
Basudeb Acharya of the CPI(M), who was present at the
meeting, told the "Asian Age" that "We will discuss the
matter amongst ourselves, but I am for the resolution."
CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told "the Hindu" that
he remained convinced that the resolution was a good idea as
it would provide a "framework on which the nuclear agreement
can proceed. Karat rejected Congress assertions that the
resolution was tantamount to a vote of confidence, stating
that "the CPI(M) is not holding out any threat to the
government" but merely "making its position clear." The LF
also issued a statement that the resolution issue was "not
about siding with one or another political party, but for
'all parties' to express themselves through Parliament on the
nuclear agreement with the United States."
Action on the Floor of Parliament
---------------------------------
6. (U) During the July 26 question hour in the Lok Sabha,
MPs from the LF, SP and BJP expressed concern about the
Nuclear Initiative. MOS for External Affairs Anand Sharma
tried to assuage opponents, stating that there was as yet no
final legislation in the US and the GOI would have to wait
for the conciliation of the House and Senate versions of the
Bill before making a formal statement. He assured the MPs
that the final bilateral agreement would be "within the
defined templates" of the July 18 Joint Statement. His
remarks apparently did little to calm the agitated MPs, with
one BJP member stating afterwards that, "we don't share the
Left's anti-Americanism, because we ushered in a new chapter
of the Indo-US relationship, but we cannot allow the
government to compromise our nuclear capability and research
under the proposed deal."
7. (U) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh then indicated that he
would make a formal statement to Parliament next week. He
emphasized that "we will never compromise in a manner which
is inconsistent with the provisions of the Joint Statement of
NEW DELHI 00005285 003 OF 004
July 18," and that the UPA government has been making efforts
to ensure "utmost transparency" and promote "overall
accountability."
Continues For Another Day
-------------------------
8. (C) Pol/Miloff attended the July 27 session of the Rajya
Sabha and witnessed a contentious 30 minute debate on the
Nuclear Initiative. MOS Sharma again assured the MPs that
India would agree to India-specific safeguards and a Nuclear
Weapons State Additional Protocol, sparking a round of
shouting from Initiative opponents. After the Rajya Sabha
calmed down, a BJP speaker noted the passage of the
legislation in the US House of Representatives and expressed
concern about the nuclear explosive test provision and "tens
of other problems" that he claimed existed in the
legislation. The PM responded that, at the end of the day,
if the final legislation was "inconsistent" with what he had
previously told Parliament, he would address that matter when
the time comes. SP General Secretary Amar Singh told the PM
that Parliament was in favor of presenting the "unanimous
resolution," prompting more yelling, which only quieted after
Opposition Leader Jaswant Singh noted that the intent of the
resolution was only to ensure that the Indian Parliament
played a role in government similar to that exercised by the
US Congress. CPI(M) MP Sitaram Yechury then offered a
question about the sequencing of India's safeguards agreement
and the US-India 123 Agreement. The PM responded that that
House vote did not signify the end of the legislative process
and pleaded for the MPs to let the US finish. More yelling
ensued, and when the Chair tried to move on to the next
question, the BJP delegation walked-out.
Murky Until the End
-------------------
9. (C) Congress is deeply worried about the proposed
Parliament resolution as the PM has staked his prestige on
the successful conclusion of the Civil Nuclear Initiative and
will not rest easy until the process is finally concluded.
Many in the old-line Congress Party remain skeptical about
the PM's enthusiasm for U.S.-India relations, and will
acquiesce to the nuclear deal only insofar as it carries no
domestic cost. In this regard, the political fate of Prime
Minister Singh is wrapped-up in the outcome. Parties from
across the political spectrum have attacked the PM in recent
weeks, claiming that he is too weak, unfit to be Prime
Minister and should be replaced (Ref A). This added
attention the PM increases Congress anxiety that any
anti-Initiative resolution could be interpreted as a
humiliation and betrayal of the UPA alliance. With so much
at stake, they have brought in the big guns to convince the
Left to abandon the resolution proposal. Pranab Mukherjee,
who acts as the de facto Deputy Prime Minister and is the
Congress liaison with LF, threw down the gauntlet and made it
plain to the Communist leaders that they cannot have it both
ways, propping up the UPA government, while undermining its
very existence. Much will depend on the BJP, as there is
obvious discomfort in both the BJP and LF for a Red/Saffron
alliance against the Nuclear agreement. There are early
indications that much of the BJP leadership is having serious
second thoughts about the prospect of cooperating with their
hated Communist enemies in Parliament. PM Singh is trying to
convince sympathetic elements from both the left and the
right that his statement in Parliament next week (which we
assume will be followed by questions), should suffice.
NEW DELHI 00005285 004 OF 004
Congress hopes to convince Initiative opponents that a
resolution serves no useful purpose and give them a
face-saving way to abandon it. We expect that India's
political leadership will continue to meet secretly right up
to the last minute, with Congress bringing all possible
pressure to bear on an issue that has now moved to the center
of India's domestic political debate.
10. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website:
(http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/)
PYATT
SPECIAL MEDIA REPORT: PRIME MINISTER SINGH'S WASHINGTON VISIT
Date:2009 November 27, 12:58 (Friday) Canonical ID:09NEWDELHI2397_a
Original Classification:UNCLASSIFIED Current Classification:UNCLASSIFIED
Handling Restrictions:-- Not Assigned -- Character Count:9939
Executive Order:-- Not Assigned -- Locator:TEXT ONLINE
TAGS:IN - India | KMDR - Media Reaction Reporting | KPAO - Public Affairs Office | PGOV - Political Affairs--Government; Internal Governmental Affairs | PREL - Political Affairs--External Political Relations Concepts:-- Not Assigned --
Enclosure:-- Not Assigned -- Type:TE
Office Origin:-- N/A or Blank --
Office Action:-- N/A or Blank -- Archive Status:-- Not Assigned --
From:India New Delhi Markings:-- Not Assigned --
To:Bangladesh Dhaka | Commander Seventh Fleet | Department of Commerce | Department of Defense | Department of State | India Chennai | India Hyderabad | India Kolkata | India Mumbai | Joint Chiefs of Staff | National Security Council | Nepal Kathmandu | Pakistan Islamabad | Pakistan Karachi | Sri Lanka Colombo | United Kingdom London | United Nations (New York) | United States Central Command | United States Pacific Command
ContentRaw contentMetadataPrint
Share
Find
Show Headers
WASHINGTON VISIT
SUMMARY: Prime Minister Singh's Washington visit, while
generating mixed reviews, found a largely positive
though measured reception in the Indian press. Several
reports emphasized that, although there were no big
ticket announcements, the visit bode well for continued
meaningful engagement and a new direction to the U.S.-
India strategic partnership. Some analysts said the
visit dispelled fears over the perceived tilt of the
U.S. towards China. While President Obama was perceived
reassuring Prime Minister Singh of India's priority,
demands were made to "convert symbolism into
substance." Reports called on Prime Minister Singh to
leverage a more helpful position of the U.S. in the
region for dealing with India's two nuclear neighbors
and the fight against terrorism among other key issues.
Many reports, however, argued that, despite the hype
and glamour of the state dinner, the visit lacked
substance, and that the Obama administration was not
taking India seriously. Reports called a "let-down" the
two countries' perceived failure to reach agreement on
reprocessing nuclear fuel, further noting that the
bilateral relationship is "living on past credit rather
than current commitments." END SUMMARY.
---------------------------------
MATURING TIES AND THE WAY FORWARD
---------------------------------
1. "MATURING TIES," editorial in centrist, independent
English daily, THE TIMES OF INDIA: "The outlook for
Indo-US ties going forward is substantive, though it
might not be spectacular, and promises decent
dividends. It is in India's interests to push through
more market reforms and scale up its economic clout as
it seeks a solid equation with the US and a greater say
in global affairs. Upon his return, this should top
Singh's agenda."
2. "BETWEEN FRIENDS," editorial in English daily, THE
INDIAN EXPRESS: "Having won the necessary strategic
reassurance from the White House, it is now up to Delhi
to think more creatively about the India-US
relationship and develop some big ideas for Obama's
planned visit to Delhi next year."
3. "THE AMERICAN GRAFFITI READS...," editorial in
centrist, independent English daily, HINDUSTAN TIMES:
"Obama reassured Singh that India is a priority. Now to
convert symbolism into substance. The summit was a
success in sketching a roadmap for the future of the
relationship. The test will be to see how well the map
can be navigated in the real world."
4. "A GOOD VISIT, BUT DON'T OVER-HYPE IT," editorial in
independent English daily, DECCAN CHRONICLE: "Prime
Minister Singh's state visit to the United States
earlier this week has on the whole ended on a positive
note. A key objective of the trip was to gauge the
current climate in Washington regarding India's own
rise. The earlier George W. Bush administration was
NEW DELHI 00002397 002 OF 004
remarkable in that it gave India wide room in the
region, opened doors for it internationally through the
civil nuclear agreement in the face of stiff opposition
from nuclear hawks at home and sharp resentment in
China and Pakistan, and invested in a bilateral ties
across a broad range."
5. "CAPITOL IDEA," editorial in centrist English daily,
THE TELEGRAPH: "There was the lurking fear that the
bonhomie that existed between India and the US during
the presidency of George W. Bush would not endure
during Mr. Obama's term. All such gloomy predictions
have been dispelled. Thus both in terms of politics
and economics, the Indo-US relationship is Buttressed
by genuine areas of cooperation that benefit both
countries."
6. "DIPLOMATIC SUCCESS," editorial in left-of-center
Bengali daily, SAMBAD PRATIDIN: "The diplomatic
success that Manmohan Singh has been able to achieve
during his Washington visit to corner neighboring
Pakistan on the eve of the 26/11 anniversary deserves
congratulation. It is now being felt that after
Singh's visit the relations between the two countries
would be strengthened. Obama's accepting the Prime
Minister's invitation to visit India in 2010 has also
sent new signals in the international arena. This is
the success of India."
7. "WHAT'S INDISPENSABLE?" article in English daily,
THE INDIAN EXPRESS: To be fixated on comparisons with
US-China ties is to miss the point. The emphasis is on
economic, technological and R&D cooperation and joint
efforts to bring about a knowledge century are perhaps
the most meaningful results of this summit. That does
not have the sex appeal of the Indo-US nuclear deal,
but this is a solid foundation for the Indo-US
cooperative effort.
8. "MANMOHAN4S SINGH'S STRAIGHT TALK," editorial in
Hindi daily, AMAR UJALA: "PM Singh's U.S. visit is
significant in many ways. This visit strategically
opens many such doors. While India has misgivings about
President Obama's joint communiqu in Beijing, U.S.-
India relations are truly at a warm people-to-people
level. Above all, it was remarkable how PM Singh minced
no words in protesting American protection to China and
Pakistan. That is no mean achievement!"
-----------------
THE ASIAN BALANCE
-----------------
9. "SINGH, OMABA AND THE ASIAN BALANCE," op-ed by C.
Raja Mohan in English daily, THE FINANCIAL EXPRESS:
"Singh's gains in Washington are certainly reversible
given the fact that US stakes are real and high in both
Beijing and Islamabad. Having moved the US towards a
more helpful position in relation to India's challenges
vis-a-vis China and Pakistan, Singh must now fully
leverage it by demonstrating diplomatic agility and
NEW DELHI 00002397 003 OF 004
strategic purposefulness in dealing with its two
nuclear neighbours. The game has just begun."
10. "TAKE AWAY FROM WASHINGTON," op-ed by K.
Subrahmanyam in centrist English daily, THE TIMES OF
INDIA: "President Obama appreciated India's role in
reconstruction and rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan.
The two leaders agreed to enhance their respective
efforts in this direction. With this statement
President Obama has made it clear he did not endorse
the apprehensions expressed by the Pakistanis and
accepted by some Americans including General McChrystal
that Indian development activities in Afghanistan were
a cause for concern for Pakistan."
11. "FLOODS OF PRAISE: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PM'S
VISIT TO THE U.S.?" editorial in independent Kannada
daily, VIJAYA KARNATAKA: "The only significant gain of
Prime Minister Singh's visit to the U.S. is that the
grand welcome reception. America did not extend
categorical support to India's stand in important
matters. While praising Prime Minister Singh on one
side, President Obama, on the other side, had laid his
hands on the shoulders of China and Pakistan."
12. "WISDOM DAWNS ON OBAMA," editorial in centrist
Marathi daily, NAVSHAKTI: "The popular impressions of
U.S. appeasement of China, created after U.S. President
Obama's China visit, were somewhat mellowed down after
the one and a half hour meeting between the president
and the Indian Prime Minister Singh. Both the leaders
have spoken in one voice against terrorism of all
kinds. The next logical step in the U.S.-India
bilateral relationship is the actual action plan to
deactivate the terrorist bases operating from Pakistani
soil."
13. "APKA SWAGAT HAI, SAYS OBAMA," editorial in
November 27 centrist Marathi daily, PRAHAR: "It is
quite clear that Obama values India as a crucial ally
in South Asia. After his China visit, political
observers had made conclusions about his obvious tilt
towards China. But the openness with which Singh spoke
about China and Pakistan shows Obama is aware of
India's role in the geo-politics of the region."
-----------------
LACKING SUBSTANCE
-----------------
14. "LAST MILE IN THE NUCLEAR DEAL," editorial in left-
of-center English daily, THE HINDU : "There can be
little question that the failure to reach agreement on
the arrangements and procedures for reprocessing spent
American fuel on Indian soil during Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's visit to the United States is a let-
down. The fact that the two sides were looking at the
agreement as a major deliverable from the visit
suggests the bilateral relationship is living on past
credit rather than current commitments. India must act
on the realization that there is no reason for it to
NEW DELHI 00002397 004 OF 004
lose sleep over the delay in settling the reprocessing
issue."
15. "A DEAL GONE SOUR," article by Bramha Chellaney in
English daily, DNA: "The ritzy state dinner US
president Barack Obama hosted in honour of Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh at the White House could not
obscure the fact that Singh's visit yielded little in
substance."
16. "NO SUBSTANCE," editorial in left-of-center Kannada
daily, PRAJAVANI: "The meeting between Prime Minister
Singh and US President Obama has not achieved anything
significant. President Obama has given several
assurances with regard to many issues including civil
nuclear deal, climate change, but none of them are
concrete. US President Obama did not yield to India's
request to put more pressure on Pakistan with regard to
26/11 terror strikes and he did not make any
categorical statement in that regard."
18. "FROM AMERICA WITH A SMILE," article in English
daily, THE PIONEER: "Irrespective of what Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh's spin doctors in South Block
say, it is as plain as daylight that the Obama
Administration is not taking India seriously."
ZEYA